Shortstop Gary DiSarcina, a leader on the field and in the clubhouse, is expected to miss the rest of the season after surgery on his right shoulder Thursday. DiSarcina is in the final year of a four-year, $11.7-million contract that includes a $3.45-million option for 2001 _ which becomes guaranteed if he makes 1,200 plate appearances in the last three seasons of the contract. He was likely to make it if he had remained healthy. Team medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum repaired a small tear to DiSarcina's rotator cuff and trimmed the outer layer of the labrum, part of the shoulder joint, during the operation at University of California-Irvine Medical Center in Orange. DiSarcina, 32, was batting .395 with one home runs and 11 RBI in 12 games this season. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 9 with a bruised left thumb. He was activated April 24, but went back on the DL because of stiffness in his right shoulder May 8. He had been on the DL three times in his career entering the season. DiSarcina has played 1,086 games for the Angels, most among their active players and is tied for fourth all-time with Dick Schofield. DiSarcina has a career mark of .258, with 28 homers and 355 RBI. Benji Gil, who has made nine errors and is hitting .225, has filled in at short for the Angels. Justin Baughman, a former second baseman now playing shortstop at Triple-A Edmonton, eventually could move into the position for Anaheim. ASTROS: The Elias Sports Bureau has found three teams that have wasted two seven-run leads in a week: The 2000 Astros, the 1950 Indians and the 1900 Cardinals. Houston blew a 9-2 lead at Milwaukee on Monday, then saw a 7-0 lead evaporate at home against Philadelphia on Wednesday. "Tell those guys in Houston not to get excited," former Indians star Bob Feller said. "They didn't break any records." BLUE JAYS: Toronto placed pitcher Lance Painter (tender left elbow) on the 15-day disabled list. Painter, normally a reliever, made consecutive starts May 10 and 16. Left-hander Clayton Andrews was called up from Triple A. BRAVES: Andres Galarraga is hitting .470 (31-for-66) with two homers and 18 RBI in his past 15 games. BREWERS: Outfielder Geoff Jenkins (broken finger) is expected to return on the upcoming six-game road trip. He missed three weeks. CARDINALS: St. Louis needs four homers the next four games to tie Seattle's 1999 record of 100 through 50 games. CUBS: Chicago optioned left-handed pitcher Kyle Farnsworth to Triple-A Iowa and recalled right-handed reliever Matt Karchner. This will be Karchner's third stint with the Cubs this season. He was 1-0 with a save and a 1.19 ERA in nine games at Iowa. Shortstop Ricky Gutierrez (left hamstring, right shoulder) did not play. EXPOS: Catcher Charlie O'Brien, 39, was called up from the minors, giving him a chance to play for his eighth major-league team in a career that began in 1985. Reliever Jim Poole got two outs in the seventh, lowering his ERA from 135 to 45. GIANTS: San Francisco has won 10 of its past 12 at home, after losing seven of their first eight. ORIOLES: Sen. Jesse Helms has asked Attorney General Janet Reno to investigate whether Baltimore refuses to sign Cuban defectors. Helms, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said such a policy would appear to violate international agreements on treatment of refugees. The Washington Times reported last week the Orioles had "a policy" of refusing to sign players who defect from Cuba because of last year's exhibition games. The Washington Post subsequently quoted owner Peter Angelos as saying that the team would be interested in scouting and signing Cuban defectors. "But we would not solicit or encourage anyone to defect _ rather we would discourage that," Angelos, an attorney, told the paper. ROCKIES: Outfielder Larry Walker (right elbow) is pain-free and has started strength exercises. _ TIMES WIRES